Strictly Come Dancing stars Kevin and Karen Clifton have spoken about their decision to go public about the end of their relationship.
The couple, who are both professional dancers on the hit show, confirmed their separation in March after three years of marriage and months of speculation about their future together.
Kevin told Hello! magazine: “It was important to be honest about everything.
“I think there is a lot of pressure on people to be perfect all the time, and so there is this fairytale image of everything, but at the end of the day we are just like other people.
“We never want to pretend to our fans or to anybody.”
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Karen added: “Or to ourselves. It is about being true to yourself, and respecting one another. I respect and admire Kevin as a performer, a human being, and I’ve always looked up to him, that will never stop.
“We want to be positive in all of this.”
The former couple are about to embark on a 44-date tour in May and Karen told the magazine: “As performers with our fans and as a couple with our family, we have shared so much, so no matter what has happened, we can continue. Things don’t have to fall apart.
“Throughout the years we have had a good friendship, and that is a great base.”
She continued: “We just want to be happy as individuals, and wish the best for each other.”
The tour is based on the inspirations and performers they grew up watching and Kevin said: “This is about to be the best work that we have done, I feel that.
“Being honest about everything has unlocked a real creativity. We are stronger than ever.”
The couple also addressed if they will dance together if they return to Strictly for the next series, with Karen saying: “You know, we don’t make that decision, it is down to the choreographers, they switch us all round.”
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However she dismissed rumours she will move back to New York, saying: “London is my home. I feel I have grown up as a person here.”
Read the full interview in Hello!, out now.
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